Regarding truck drivers, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has strict regulations. Compliance with these regulations ensures that commercial truck drivers operate safely on the road.
The DOT background check process involves several key steps. Each step helps ensure that truck drivers are safe and qualified for the job.
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
To mitigate risk, employers should consider running a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) background check on candidates for positions that involve driving. These checks help protect companies from liability, property damage, public image fallout and other concerns.
MVR reports are essential for businesses to obtain as part of the pre-employment screening process because they can reveal whether drivers have a clean history of driving safely and without accidents or violations. Typically, a driver’s MVR report should be checked for three to five years and display no severe evidence of problematic behavior behind the wheel.
Employers can order an MVR online or by mail through the Department of Motor Vehicles. In most states, these records can be delivered electronically within a day.
A driver’s MVR will detail their license status, past violations, infractions, and accident history. They can also provide insights into the driver’s risky driving behaviors, which insurance companies use to assess their rates.
Per FMCSA regulations, carriers must secure and review a driver’s MVR for the last three years upon hire as part of a driver qualification file. This ensures that pages employ qualified drivers and avoid the risks of hiring drivers that may endanger their own company, customers, and other drivers on the road.
Employment Verification
The Department of Transportation (DOT) sets background screening requirements for employers who hire truck drivers. These requirements include a three-year check of the driver’s safety record, employment verification and a drug and alcohol test.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces these regulations, which help ensure that trucks are safe to drive and protects the public. Large commercial vehicles account for 400,000 crashes annually, so the DOT background check is essential to weed out potential safety hazards.
A DOT background check for truckers includes Employment Verification, a thorough search of a candidate’s previous employment history and driving record. This consists of all jobs and dates of employment, a list of prior employers and any accidents or violations.
It also includes a list of any DOT physical tests and drug screenings performed on the candidate, if any. If any of these reports indicate that the candidate is not in compliance with drug and alcohol laws, this could be grounds for denial of a job offer or termination.
A good relationship with your former employers is essential, mainly if you worked for small trucking companies. If you don’t, your recruiters may have to contact them directly to get the information they need to verify your work history.
Drug and Alcohol Screening
If you work for a trucking company, you must know about the Drug and Alcohol Screening (DAS) requirements. This is essential in ensuring you’re not using illegal drugs while driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
A DOT-qualified substance abuse professional can require a trucker to undergo a drug or alcohol test based on the supervisor’s observations of the driver’s appearance, body odor, speech, or behaviors. This testing can replace a pre-employment drug test for drivers who have failed or refused to take one.
These follow-up tests can last up to five years and consist of a minimum of six unannounced drug tests directly observed by the substance abuse professional. If a driver has previously failed or refused a test, they must pass a series of random tests during the first 12 months after completing the return-to-duty process.
A positive drug or alcohol test will make you look bad to your employer and can even cause your operating authority to be revoked. This can be a costly and time-consuming situation.
The DOT Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse houses the results of all safety-sensitive drug and alcohol testing for five years, and employers must check the database before hiring new drivers. This records any violations, which can lead to costly fines and damage a company’s reputation.
Medical Examiner’s Certificate
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle or bus and need a DOT medical certificate, it’s essential to find a reputable DOT-certified medical examiner. They’ll be able to perform a thorough examination and ensure that you are physically fit for the job.
FMCSA requires that you obtain a DOT physical to maintain your commercial driver’s license (CDL). The exam will include the following:
- A health history review.
- A detailed physical examination.
- A urine test for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination.
When you pass the DOT physical, you’ll receive a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, also known as a DOT medical card. This proves that you’re certified and can legally operate a CMV or bus.
To get your DOT medical certificate, you must take a physical examination from a licensed DOT-certified medical examiner registered in the National Registry of DOT Medical Examiners. This registry helps drivers find qualified examiners who can perform the DOT medical exams required for CDL holders.
Many truckers are concerned that their medical certificates will expire before they have a chance to get them renewed. This means they may be unable to drive a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce for an extended period.
FMCSA’s proposed rule would require the State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) to give drivers a receipt as proof that their medical certificate has been submitted promptly. The SDLA will then record this information on the CDLIS driver record. However, commenters are concerned that the two-business-day window might not be enough time to ensure that the SDLA has received the certificate.
